Can body guard bead for scored can ends



June 24, 1969 L. A. MALISZEWSKI ET AL 3,451,586

CAN BODY GUARD BEAU FOR SCORED CAN ENDS Filed Sept. 15, 1967 INVENTORLEONARD AMAUSZEIMSKI S- ROBERT T. Hsu

ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 22048 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a can of the easy opening typewherein one end of the can has a major portion of the end panel thereofin the form of a removable panel portion. The can body is dividedimmediately adjacent the one end of the can with an inwardly projectingguard bead which underlies the end panel of the can end and projectsradially inwardly of the boundaries of the removable panel portion so asto protect one dispensing a product from the can from engaging theresultant raw edge when the removable panel portion is removed. Inaddition, the can is provided with a snap-on type plastic overcap. Theovercap, in addition to protecting the contents of the can after the canhas been opened, also protects the can end against accidental ruptureprior to the initial opening thereof. The guard head is advantageouslyutilized in conjunction with the overcap in that it provides clearancefor engaging the lower edge of the overcap to facilitate the removal ofthe overcap. The guard bead has a further function in that it reinforcesthe entire end construction of the can and thereby further eliminatesthe possibility of accidental rupture of the end panel.

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in canconstructions, and more particularly to a novel can of the easy openingtype wherein the can body thereof is provided immediately adjacent theeasy Opening end thereof with a guard bead.

For many years it has been conventional to reinforce can bodies by theformation of beads in the walls thereof. However, such beads aretraditionally substantially semicircular in section and project into theinterior of the can body only a limited distance so as to not materiallyreduce the volume of the can body. In an attempt to reinforce can bodieshaving easy opening ends to prevent the undue stressing of the weakenedend panels thereof, consideration was given to the beading of the canbody immediately below the can end. However, while a certain degree ofreinforcement was obtained with such a beading, it was found to beimpractical to make the bead of a sufficient radially inwardly directedextent so as to also form a guard for the raw edge which results whenthe can is opened by the tearing away of a removable panel portion ofthe end panel. While at first glance it did not appear to be feasible toutilize a head for the combined function of reinforcing the can body andforming a guard, further development resulted in the can construction ofthis invention wherein a guard bead is provided in the can bodyimmediately below the end panel of the can end, the guard bead being aflattened bead which projects into the can body radially inwardly of theweakening line defining the removable panel portion of the can end andat the same time occupies a minimum portion of the volume of the canbody.

Another object of this invention is to provide a can body adjacent anend portion thereof particularly adapted to have secured thereto byseaming an end of the easy opening type, with a readily collapsible headwhich may be collapsed by applying an axial pressure on the oppositeends of the can body either before or after the can end has been securedthereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel can body beingformed adjacent an end portion thereof with a bead which may be readilyformed by a normal bead forming operation and is readily collapsible bythe application of an endwise pressure on the can body so as to berelatively fiat as compared to normally formed beads.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel can constructionwhich includes a can body having seamed to one end thereof an easyopening can end of the type having an end panel formed with a weakeningline defining a removable panel portion, and the can body having formedtherein immediately adjacent the can end a fiat bead which projectsradially inwardly of the can body and has a wall portion disposedimmediately adjacent the end panel, the bead being a guard bead and bothreinforcing the can body and the can end and forming a guard againstaccidental engagement with the raw edge which results when the removablepanel portion is removed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel canconstruction which includes a can body having an easy opening can endsecured thereto, the can body being provided with a combinationreinforcing and guard bead immediately adjacent the can end, and therebeing provided an overcap which normally overlies the can end and isengaged with the double seam, the overcap having a skirt whichterminates immediately adjacent the bead whereby the space provided bythe bead facilitates the engagement of the skirt of the overcap and theremoval of the overcap.

In accordance with the foregoing, it is to be understood that theovercap has an end panel overlying the end panel of the can end andaffording protection against engagement of the end panel by anotherobject to the extent that accidental rupture of the end panel wouldoccur. Also, it is to be noted that the guard bead reinforces the doubleseam between the can body and the can end and thereby stifIens the endportion of the can and aids in the prevention of accidental rupture ofthe end panel of the can end.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a can body and can endformed in accordance with this invention and shows the two generallybefore they are assembled.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takenthrough an end portion of the can body with the can end double seamedthereto and prior to the collapsing of the bead of the can body.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view takenthrough one end of a completed can body formed in accordance with thisinvention and provided with an overcap.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view illustrating the advantages of the Hatguard bead of this invention as compared to a conventional type of headof a size necessary to perform the same function.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in FIGURE 3 the can construction which is generally referredto by the numeral 5 and includes a can body 6 having secured thereto bymeans of a conventional double seam 7 an easy opening can end which isgenerally referred to by the numeral 8. The can 5 is also provided withan overcap, which is generally referred to by the numeral 9.

The can end 8 is of a conventional easy opening construction andincludes an end panel 10 of which a major portion thereof is in the formof a removable panel 11 defined by a circumferential weakening line 12.It is to be understood that the removable panel 11 will be provided withsuitable means, such as a pull tab (not shown), for facilitating theremoval thereof without the use of any tools.

It will be readily apparent that when the panel 11 is removed from theend panel 10, that portion of the end panel 10 remaining and projectinginwardly of the can from the seam 7 will have a raw edge due to thetearing of the metal in the opening of the can. The raw edge is sopositioned whereby one removing a product from the can could very easilycut ones self. In accordance with this invention, this possibility is,for all practical purposes, eliminated.

It is also pointed out that inasmuch as the end panel is weakened by theexistence of the weakening line 12, there is a tendency for the endpanel 10 to accidentally rupture, particularly when an impact in thearea of the end 8 occurs. Therefore, it is also highly desirable toreinforce the can 5 adjacent the end 8 so as to greatly reduce thepossibility of the accidental rupture of the end panel 10 along theweakening line 12.

Attempts were made to reinforce the can body 6 adjacent the seam 7 bymeans of a conventionally formed bead, such as the bead 13 which isdiagrammatically shown in FIGURE 4. However, in order for the bead 13 toprovide a proper guard for the raw edge which results in the removal ofthe removable panel 11, the size of the bead 13 became a prohibitiveone. Furthermore, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 4, since the head 13,when conventionally formed, is generally semi-circular in cross section,it is spaced too far below the resultant raw edge to become an effectiveguard.

While it has been determined that a head will effectively reinforce thecan body and at the same time provide a suitable guard for the resultantraw edge, it has been necessary to form the bead in an entirelydifferent manner than that conventionally followed. In accordance withthis invention, as is clearly shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the can body 6is provided with a head 14 which is disposed immediately adjacent theseam 7 and the end panel 10. The bead 14 is U-shaped in cross sectionand includes two walls 15 and 16 which are disposed generally normal tothe axis of the can body 6 and are connected together by a bight 17. Itis to be noted that the wall 15, which is the uppermost of the twowalls, is disposed in direct underlying relation to the end panel 10 andwill be disposed closely adjacent the same. In view of the fact that thehead 14 is extremely flat as compared to the bead 13, as is evident fromFIGURE 4, it will be seen that it may effectively protect or guard theraw edge which results when the panel 11 is torn along the weakeningline 12 without the bead greatly projecting into the can body 6 oroccupying a material volume thereof. In addition, it will be readilyapparent that the bead 14 has a relatively great beam strength in aradial direction and therefore, greatly stilfens the can 5 in the areaof the can end 8. It is also to be noted that the head 14 projectsinwardly of the can body 6 until the bight 17 is disposed generallytangent to a line 18 which extends from the inner top portion of theseam 7 through. the weakening line 12. Thus, it is assured that the head14 will perform the desired guarding function. g

It is to be understood that the head 14, due to its particularconfiguration and relative depth as compared to height, cannot be formedin a conventional manner. It is, therefore, necessary to provide the canbody 6 first with a head, which is generally identified by the numeral20, as is shown in FIGURE 2. The head 20 is generally V- shaped in crosssection and is formed of two radially inwardly converging walls 21 and22 connected together by an arcuate portion 23. The bead 20 may beformed with any conventional bead forming operation after the can body 6has been formed.

Either before or after the can end 8 is applied to the can body 6, anendwise compressive force is applied to the can body 6 as is generallyindicated by the arrows 24, 25 in FIGURE 2. This endwise compressiveforce results in the collapsing of the head 20 with the walls 21 and 22swinging towards one another and the curve 23 tightening. The bead 20,when properly collapsed, takes on the appearance of the bead 14.

At this time it is pointed out that the head 14 has another advantageousfunction when the can 5 is provided with the overcap 9. It is to benoted that the overcap 9 has a skirt 27 which surrounds the seam 7 andwhich terminates in an inwardly directed retaining flange 2-8 at thelower edge thereof, the retaining flange 28 underlying the seam 7. Inview of the fact that the flange 28 is disposed immediately adjacent thebead 14, it will be seen that the head 14 provides suflicient clearancefor one to engage the flange 28 with ones fingers in order to outwardlyspread the lower portion of the skirt and release the overcap 9 from thecan.

It is well known to provide overcaps to facilitate the temporary closingof cans after they have been opened. However, it has been found thatwhen an overcap of the type illustraed in FIGURE 3 is incorporated witha can having an end of the easy opening type, the overcap has additionaland unexpected beneficial functions. In the first place, the overcap 9has an end panel 29 which overlies the end panel 10 in spaced relationand which end panel 29, although the overcap 9 is formed of a flexibleplastic material, is prevented from moving towards the end panel 10sufiiciently to prevent any foreign object from accidentally strikingthe end panel 10 and efiecting the rupture thereof along the weakeningline 12. In addition, the overcap 9 cooperates with the bead 14 toincrease the rigidity of the end portion of the can 5, thereby resistingaccidental flexure of the end panel 10 and the rupture thereof along theweakening line 12 in the case of droppage.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has beenspecifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understoodthat minor variations may be made in the construction of the can Withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by theappended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a can construction of the type including a can body having one endclosed by an easy opening can end having a removable panel portiondefined by a Weakeing line formed in the end panel thereof, said canbody having an end portion particularly adapted for the seaming of thecan end thereto, said can body being provided immediately adjacent saidend portion with an inwardly directed bead particularly adapted forreinforcing said can body and forming a guard relative to a raw edgeformed when the removable end panel is removed, said head projectingradially inwardly beyond said weakening line substantially to a lineextending from the extreme end of said can through said weakening line.

2. The can construction of claim 1 wherein said head is readilycollapsible by an axial pressure on said can body and is initiallygenerally V-shaped in section.

3. The can construction of claim 1 wherein said bead is readilycollapsible by an axial pressure on said can body and is initiallydisposed in a non-protecting position relative to said weakening line.

4. The can construction of claim 1 wherein said bead is a generally flathead of generally U-shaped section and includes axially outermost wallsdisposed generally normal to the axis of said can body and projectingradially inwardly beyond said weakening line.

5. The can construction of claim 1 wherein said head is a generally fiatbead of generally U-shaped section and includes an axially outermostwall disposed generally normal to the axis of said can body and closelyunderlying said end panel.

6. In a can construction of the type including a can body having one endclosed by an easy opening can end having a removable panel portiondefined by a weakening line formed in the end panel thereof, said canbody having an end portion particularly adapted for the seaming of thecan end thereto, said can body being provided immediately adjacent saidend portion with an inwardly di rected bead particularly adapted forreinforcing said can body and forming a guard relative to a raw edgeformed when the removable end panel is removed, and a protective overcaphaving a skirt releasably interlocked with said seam and an end paneloverlying said removable panel portion in spaced relation thereto andprotecting said can end against accidental rupture.

7. The can construction of claim 6 wherein said skirt terminatesadjacent said bead whereby the space provided by said bead facilitatesthe engaging of said skirt in the removal of said overcap.

8. The can construction of claim 7 wherein said overcap is formed of aresilient plastic material.

9. In a can construction of the type incluiding a can body having oneend closed by an easy opening can end including a removable panelportion defined by a weakening line formed in the end panel thereof,said can body having an end portion particularly adapted for the seamingof the can end thereto, said can body being provided immediatelyadjacent said end portion with an inwardly directed bead particularlyadapted for reinforcing said can body and stiffening said can body endportion and said can end against undue fiexure which will result in therupture of said end panel along said weaking line, and an overcapcarried by said can body end portion, said overcap including an endpanel and a depending skirt, said depending skirt surrounding the seambetween said can end and said can body and terminating generally inalignment with said bead, and said overcap end panel being disposed inprotective overlying spaced relation to said can end panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,269,588 8/1966 Ruekberg 220-3,303,962 2/1967 Lake 220-27 GEORGE T. HALL, Primaly Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

